State regulators blame the pilot of a container ship for causing an oil spill in San Francisco Bay when the vessel rammed a bridge tower.

The state pilot commission approved a report Thursday that says Capt. John Cota committed several errors, including leaving port in thick fog on the morning of Nov. 7 and sailing the ship too fast. The Cosco Busan crashed into a support tower of the Bay Bridge and leaked more than 50,000 gallons of oil.

Despite the findings, the commission has no authority over Cota because he already has surrendered his pilot license and retired. He has pleaded not guilty in federal court to environmental crimes and lying about his prescription drug use on Coast Guard medical forms.

— Associated Press

CAMPBELL

Matthew Walker quits council race

Matthew Walker announced Thursday that he has canceled his campaign, ending his bid for a seat on the Campbell City Council.

“For personal reasons I am unable to continue my campaign efforts and will not be able to represent the community of Campbell for the term I was seeking elected office,” Walker wrote in a letter submitted to the city clerk’s office.

Walker would not go into depth about the reason for his decision but said there has been an “accumulation of multiple things in my personal life.” He added that his standing in the campaign had no effect on his decision.

Walker’s withdrawal leaves three candidates vying for two seats in the November election. The candidates are Jason Baker, David Barclay and Michael Kotowski.

— Chris Vongsarath , Bay Area News Group

GILROY

Teen girl reports gang rape

Gilroy police are investigating the possible rape of a 17-year-old girl who reported she had been sexually assaulted by several men.

Police were alerted by Valley Medical Center in San Jose after the victim arrived at the emergency room Monday afternoon with a minor head injury and told hospital staff that she had been raped at a Gilroy house.

The victim said she and a friend had called some Gilroy men to give them a ride from San Jose to a party in Gilroy. While at the Gilroy house, she said, she was raped by gang members, according to police.

A witness did not give police any information and the victim did not want to identify her attackers and she would not describe the suspects or identify the home where the attack happened, authorities said.

— Sandra Gonzales, Mercury News

Teacher accused of slapping students

Three students at Gilroy High School are accusing a teacher of slapping and pushing them several times.

Early last week, the parent of one of the students reported the alleged battery, prompting an investigation.

During the investigation, the school resource officer determined that the female teacher had struck or pushed three students in three separate incidents this month, Gilroy police said. The teacher’s name is being withheld because she has not been charged with a crime. The alleged victims were two girls, age 14 and 16, and a 15-year-old boy.

The Gilroy Unified School District is working with police on the case, which will be sent to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office for review of battery charges against the suspect.